US Air Force picks HP for five-year computer contract

The Air Force has awarded a five-year contract to Hewlett Packard Co. of Palo Alto, Calif., to provide desktop PCs, notebooks and servers as part of the service's strategy to reshape asset management and reduce total cost of technology ownership.

The Desktops, Laptops, Servers Blanket Purchase Agreement allows the company direct bidding through the AFWay system or the Air Force's large quarterly enterprise buys for desktop and notebook PCs. The policy of the Air Force Office of the CIO is that planned desktop and notebook purchases must be bought through one of these two channels.

Under the terms of the BPA, Air Force customers can buy HP client computing devices, departmental servers, additional storage for existing storage area networks, peripherals, replacement parts, and associated services and accessories from the company's General Services Administration schedule.

The agreement covers all non-ruggedized HP desktops, notebooks and tablet PCs. The BPA places no order limitations and open market micro-purchases are allowed.

The BPA is being managed by the Standard Systems Group at Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base in Montgomery, Ala.